Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Alternative: But right in the midst the pressure of these days, the sun darkens and the moon does not give its light and the stars fall from the sky and the universe's power wavers.

I know that virtually all Christians see this chapter as a description of the apocalypse, that is, the ending of the world. (In Greek, apocalypse means literally, "the lifting of the veil," not the end of the world or even age.) The more I look at this chapter as a whole, however, the more it reads like an indictment of apocalyptic thinking rather than a foretelling of the apocalypse. While this verse seems like it describes the end of the world instead of the culmination of an age or our indivual deaths, Christ is more generally describing a loss of faith during times of trouble. In addressing the world's loss of faith, he is saying much more than the sun and moon literally darkening and the stars falling.

The reference here is to the false prophets and false saviors, who hide in secret rooms and the desert and who show up like buzzards circling a dead body during times of pressure. The contrast is with Mat 24:27 where Christ describes his presence as a bright light that flashes from sunrise to sunset. As we said in our analysis of that verse, the false saviors are hidden and make everything obscure. That point in emphasized here. Christ is describing the Chicken Little viewpoint of those who follow these false prophets. In other words, when times get tough, the crowd always thinks that it is the end of the world and follow their prophets of gloom and doom.

And isn't that exactly what always happens? You can see this pattern repeated in EVERY era including our own. From the viewpoint of the crowd and these false prophets, the sky is falling. Yet, beginning this chapter, in Mat 24:6 when he begins describing all these troubles Christ says that "the end is not yet." He is saying that "the purpose" of the world is not these wars and disasters that pressure us. Instead, he says in Mat 24:13 that those who remain steadfast, holding to their purpose, without panicing and turning on one another, will survive these troubles.

How many divergent Christian sects have arisen over the centuries founded on a new "prophet's" prediction that the end of the world is coming. Isn't it likely that Christ would warn us that this would happen? Isn't he clearly warning us of these false prophets who seek to lead us away from the light and into the darkness?

The evidence that Christ is saying that an apocalyptic viewpoint is a false belief is made clear at the end of this verse. When Christ says that "heaven's power is shaken," is he saying that it is truly shaken or the people fear that it is wavering, lead by their false prophets? Thoughout the Gospels, Christ consistently uses the power of heaven or the universe as a synonym for God's power. Does God's power ever waver under any circumstances? Or do people mistakenly think or fear that it is failing because they lack faith?

Remember how this chapter begins. Christ says the temple will soon fall. The apostle's ask what Christ's presence means in terms of the culmination of their era. Christ says that the purpose of the world is not found in these upheavals that turn everything we know upside down. Yes, these changes come suddenly and can instantly deprive us of everything we think is important. However, he also says that if we hold to our purpose, we can survive.

His presence during these times provides a bright, guiding light in contrast to the secret knowledge claimed by the prophets of gloom and doom. In the next few verses, he goes on to explain that his presence will give people a rallying point throughout these recurring times of tragedy when false prophets predict only gloom and doom. Those that follow his light survive to live in a brighter age.

I am suddenly reminded of the second line of the Beatitudes, where Christ says that those who mourn are being summoned (not "comforted" as in most translations). Christ is saying that these periodic upheavals serve a purpose: to winnow out those who have faith from those who do not. Tragedy is a summoning of us to God. This is an answer to people who do not understand the purpose of evil. Tough times, that is times of pressure, as Christ describes them, serve a purpose. They call us to faith in God. Separating those who have faith who survive from those who are fearful and die.


"After" is from meta, which means "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," and "by the aid of."

"Darken" is from skotizô, which means "make dark," "get in the light of," "to be darkened," and "to be blinded."

"Light" is from phengos (pheggos), which means "light," "splendor," "luster," "moonlight," "day," and "light" as a metaphor for glory, pride, and joy.

"Shaken" is from saleuô, which means "to cause to rock," "to make vibrate," "to be shaken," "to waver," "to totter," "to move up and down," "to roll," and "to toss."

"Power" is from dunamis, which means "power," "might," "elemental force," "faculty," "art," "worth," and "capacity."